According to the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, a felony conviction precludes an individual from being involved in the management of a casino.

Mr. Marshall, 57, was convicted of rape in 1981, a revelation that prompted him to step aside indefinitely as tribal council chairman Friday. He also admitted he lied repeatedly about his service in Vietnam and allowed others to distort his record.

In 2004, while under oath, Mr. Marshall told a congressional committee reviewing the tribe's federal recognition process that he survived the siege of Khe Sanh.

Mr. Marshall was still in high school in Falmouth while the 77-day battle was waged.

It was unclear Monday whether Mr. Marshall's lies before Congress could result in a federal perjury charge.

But it was unmistakable that both his lies and his rape conviction have prompted closer scrutiny of Mr. Marshall and the tribe's efforts to bring Class III gaming to Massachusetts.

Two state legislators who were impressed by Mr. Marshall during lobbying visits to the Statehouse earlier this month were stunned by his downfall. They said the tribe needed to reshape its leadership quickly to regain the trust of legislators on Beacon Hill.

"I think it is a setback for the tribe," said Rep. Martin Walsh, D-Boston, who supports slot machines at the state's four racetracks. "I've heard from people, and I've gotten a mixed reaction on it. Anyone who has lingering questions about whether casino gambling is the right thing to do in Massachusetts, this will probably add more doubt in their minds."

Rep. Walsh, who praised Mr. Marshall as "very down to earth and sincere" in a profile in a Connecticut newspaper before the scandal broke, was "surprised" by the revelations.

"I think the tribe has a lot of work to do as far as PR work," Rep. Walsh said.

Rep. Brian Wallace, D-Boston, who also supports slots at racetracks, said the tribe needs to move quickly to solidify its leadership because the casino debate could intensify at the Statehouse within a few weeks.

"I think they need to do whatever they want to do in a very quick manner because it seems that things are breaking in a week or two," Rep. Wallace said. "They do have good advisers. They need someone like Glenn, who was the face of the tribe."

Rep. Wallace met Mr. Marshall four years ago. At the time, Rep. Wallace was a newly elected state representative from Boston who gave his first House speech on allowing slots parlors at the tracks.

"He's put in a lot of work, that's the downside," Rep. Wallace said. "This guy has kind of taken them to where they are now for the most part. He has always been a gentleman to me. It is a shock."

But Rep. Wallace said the tribe shouldn't be penalized for Mr. Marshall's actions, any more than the actions of someone from South Boston should represent the whole neighborhood.

"It's one person, it's not the whole tribe," Rep. Wallace said. "It's a guy that had some problems, and he's trying to do the right thing with his life."

In a prepared statement, Mr. Marshall said he would take time off to deal with his demons and with "the mental and physical issues" he's facing. He was ousted by the tribal council Monday night.

The revelations were a surprise, said Robert Mills, a Hyannis-based attorney and former tribal council member.

Mr. Marshall was not only a leader in the tribe's drive to win federal recognition, but was also at the forefront of winning its right to aboriginal fishing rights in 1999, Mills said.

"I wouldn't underestimate him," Mr. Mills said. "He's a pretty disciplined guy. He certainly has the capabilities to lead the tribe forward."

While the tribe attempts to regroup, court records reveal that five months after Mr. Marshall was released on parole for the rape conviction, he was charged in Barnstable District Court with operating under the influence of alcohol and possession of cocaine. Those charges were dismissed a year later on the recommendation of his parole officer, court records indicate. He was ordered to pay $100.

A spokeswoman for the state Department of Corrections declined to comment on why Mr. Marshall served just three months of a five-year prison sentence. She said she could not comment on why the drunken driving and cocaine charges did not land him back in jail.

A spokesman for the state's Parole Board did not return calls.

Court records also indicate Mr. Marshall was charged with receiving stolen property in 1993 and multiple cases of fishing without a shellfish license in 1993 and 1996.

All of those cases were dismissed.

Cape Cod Times staff writer Aaron Gouveia contributed to this report.

George Brennan can be reached at gbrennan@capecodonline.com. David Kibbe can be reached at dkottaway@aol.com